246 Lake Maxinkuckee, Physical and Biological Survey 



winter. The part above water remains during most of the winter, 

 but gradually breaks off or is removed when the ice melts in spring. 

 The muskrat frequently uses this plant in the construction of its 

 winter houses. 



The plants were nearly dead by September 28, 1900. By May 

 5, 1901, the young stalks of the year showed up from the bottom 

 as green short stubble ; by May 16, the plants were projecting above 

 the surface of the water; nine days later flower-buds began to 

 show, and by the first of June, the plants, though only about 6 

 inches high, were in blossom. 



This plant forms extensive patches at Bass Lake where the 

 water remains shallow a long distance from shore. 



133. AMERICAN GREAT BULRUSH; MAT-RUSH 



SCIRPUS VALIDUS Vahl 



The great bulrush is the most aquatic species of the genus about 

 the lake. In habits and choice of habitat it quite closely resembles 

 S. americanus, and both are found in similar situations except that 

 the great bulrush will grow out in deeper water, and prefers a 

 soft marly soil, while the three-cornered rush prefers more 

 sand. Like S. americanus, the great bulrush is found along shore 

 from the Culver railroad bridge to the north shore of Long Point. 

 It is rare or absent along the east shore of Long Point. Below 

 Green's it begins again and extends with occasional interruptions 

 to Norris's. There is none along the east shore of the lake, but it 

 begins again where the road comes down to the lake near the Mili- 

 tary Academy grounds. Opposite the ice-houses, opposite Farrar's 

 and opposite Overmyer's field, it grows for a considerable distance 

 out in the lake. By Overmyer's field it grows back from shore 

 on a springy flat, while in the Inlet marsh it grows back from 

 shore for a considerable distance. In favorable locations it grows 

 in water 7 or 8 feet deep, the plants projecting above the water 4 

 feet, the entire length of these plants being 11 or 12 feet. On 

 shore it rarely grows more than 7 or 8 feet high and is usually 

 about 6. Bulrushes are common about the edges of Lost Lake, and 

 continue more or less interruptedly down the Outlet, patches oc- 

 curring here and there almost down to the Outlet mouth. 



The bulrush stems furnish the muskrat with material with 

 which to build its house. Masses of filamentous algas frequently grow 

 attached to the base of submerged Scirpus stems; this was espe- 

 cially well marked in the region of the Inlet, where various algas, 

 notably the rank Schizomeris, formed dense skirts about the bul- 

 rushes, much as mosses and Porella grow about the bases of shrubs 



